Summary
The draw for the 2026 World Cup will happen at the Kennedy Center to divide 48 teams into 12 groups. President Donald Trump will attend the event, where they will also award the FIFA Peace Prize. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada are hosting the tournament and are automatically placed in Pot 1, giving them an advantage.
Key Facts
- The 2026 World Cup draw takes place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center.
- The tournament features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four.
- The top 32 teams will move to the knockout rounds after the group stage.
- Teams are selected from four pots based on FIFA rankings.
- Host countries U.S., Mexico, and Canada are in Pot 1, avoiding strong competition in their initial group.
- Some teams in Pot 4 are currently undetermined and will be decided by playoffs.
- Each group must have at least one European team but no more than two.
- Teams from the same soccer confederation, except UEFA, cannot be in the same group.
